What are snowflake adoptions? Should Christians consider them?

Answer

Snowflake adoption involves adopting a frozen embryo originally designated for in vitro fertilization (IVF) but never utilized. The procedure entails delicately thawing the embryo and then implanting it into a woman’s uterus with the goal of achieving a full-term pregnancy. The term “snowflake” symbolizes the embryo’s previous frozen state and underscores the uniqueness of each individual, akin to the distinct design of every snowflake.

It is suggested that Christians consider snowflake adoption because the Bible teaches that life commences at conception—specifically, when a male’s sperm fertilizes a female’s egg, signifying that embryos are indeed human beings. In support of this, David acknowledged that God intricately formed his body before his birth, stating, “You knitted me together in my mother’s womb” «For thou hast possessed my reins: Thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb. », (Psalm 139:13, ESV). Furthermore, God regarded David as a person even in his “unformed substance” state «Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; And in thy book all my members were written, Which in continuance were fashioned, When as yet there was none of them. », (Psalm 139:16). The Hebrew term “golem,” often translated as “substance” (e.g., ESV, KJV, NASB), alludes to the embryonic developmental stage when a person’s body parts are less defined and functional. These verses affirm that embryos deserve life and, consequently, adoption.

Understanding the IVF process underscores the necessity of snowflake adoption. Individuals opting for IVF have encountered challenges conceiving naturally, leading them to undergo a procedure where doctors retrieve sperm from the man and eggs from the woman, fertilizing the eggs in a laboratory setting, typically in a petri dish.

Once the sperm successfully fertilizes the eggs, doctors will transfer one or more of the embryos into a woman’s uterus, hoping the embryos will continue to develop through childbirth.

Most Christian ethicists oppose IVF because the process involves the use of fertility drugs to create multiple embryos, most of which will be destroyed. The reason doctors grow several embryos at once is so they can select the most viable one for implantation. Having multiple embryos also provides backup options if the first attempt fails to result in a full-term pregnancy. Nevertheless, according to the biblical view of human life, the ends don’t justify the means.

Tragically, most embryonic human beings created in the IVF process are not implanted into a woman and are destroyed as biological waste. Destruction methods vary by medical facility and local laws, but they include mandated sterilization to halt embryonic development and incineration. Additionally, some embryos are designated for stem cell research, involving procedures that also end in the destruction of the embryos. Yet another fate of unused embryos is being frozen indefinitely without a plan for future use. Unfortunately, many of these do not survive the thawing process.

What’s also tragic is that some of the embryos that are transferred into a woman are also destroyed. When multiple embryos are successfully implanted, as in the case of twins or triplets, doctors often allow only one to survive. This practice, referred to as “selective reduction,” is aimed at improving the chances of one successful pregnancy and reducing risk to the mother. Some advocates argue that selective reduction is morally permissible, equating it to miscarriage. However, selective reduction intentionally ends human lives, while miscarriage results from natural processes under the sovereignty of God.

Some Christians may be concerned that snowflake adoptions endorse the IVF process. However, snowflake adoptions do not endorse the IVF process any more than convention.

Al adoption supports the circumstances under which other adoptive children were conceived or raised. Instead, parents who adopt once-frozen embryos offer a human being at risk of death the opportunity to grow up in a loving family and lead a full and meaningful life.

Furthermore, some Christians may disregard snowflake adoption simply because an embryo is at an early stage of development. While it is true that embryos lack fully formed body parts, this does not diminish their personhood any more than individuals born with malformed limbs or improperly functioning organs. Similarly, even though embryos lack consciousness, they are still human beings, just like individuals who are asleep or in comatose states.

An alternative to IVF is intrauterine insemination (IUI), which avoids creating additional embryos for destruction. In this procedure, a man’s sperm is injected into a woman’s uterus during ovulation. If implantation is unsuccessful in IUI, natural processes take over, and there is no “selective reduction” as with IVF. Unfortunately, the chances of achieving pregnancy through IUI are lower than with IVF. Nonetheless, some couples opt for IUI to address the ethical concerns associated with IVF.

God values all human life, regardless of the stage of development or manner of conception. Snowflake adoptions offer prospective parents the chance to rescue embryonic human beings from lethal or uncertain fates.